The Division of State Lands has announced the 2014 Lake Tahoe License Plate grant recipients.

Grant funds are made available annually for projects that preserve and restore the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Approximately $350,000 was generated last year from the purchase of Nevada Lake Tahoe license plates.

After evaluation and input by a Technical Advisory Committee and Scientific Technical Peer Review, the Division of State Lands awarded nine projects. Projects include:

Tahoe East Shore Express — a Tahoe Transportation District project — supports operation of transit services between Incline Village and Sand Harbor State Park to address safety and congestion issues during peak summer months along the SR 28 corridor. East Shore Express services have been a success since their start in 2012, providing significant safety and environmental benefits to the Tahoe Basin.

Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Plant Control Project — a Tahoe Resource Conservation District project — targets and controls the establishment of aquatic invasive species plants, such as Eurasian watermilfoil and curly-leaf pondweed, on Nevada shorelines. Grant funds will be utilized to remove a known AIS infestation at Nevada Beach, as well as to survey and monitor other state beaches for new infestations.

Pilot Implementation of the Lake Tahoe Nearshore Monitoring Framework for Clarity Metrics — a Desert Research Institute project — provides for the establishment of monitoring for several key environmental indicators associated with nearshore lake clarity, most of which have not been consistently monitored in the past. Scientists will use data collected to evaluate the current nearshore environmental health at Lake Tahoe and for continued efforts to monitor, maintain and improve this sensitive, unique and ever changing environment.